I recommend playing around with the EQ on this, on your own player: it's really clearly mixed & worth it. Criticize this particular show out of the tour as much as you want, overall it's freakin' tremendous. This is the kind of show nobody needs to tell you is good.

2nd of two at the Philly Civic, the night before the beloved Roosevelt, NJ '74 show and just a couple shows away from the late-'74 classic, 9/11-Ally Pally. Half of this show is on Dick's #31 though it unfortunately leaves behind half of the nugs (and it would be nice to have this whole show in better qual). This show is probably mostly known for the China>Rider but there's a bit more going on (some of which didn't make it to Dick's 31). It's a show of extreme ups and downs and the first weird thing is that eight songs are repeats from the night before, at the same venue, and that's not counting Space! (Its not uncommon in'74 to have a few repeats but not, like, '69-style repeats: in two nights/one venue).

The First Set starts with a strong Promised Land. Jer fires all the damn way through (making it the more bizarre when he stops playing a few songs later) until Keith's measures, then he almost stops - smiling at Keith and enjoying himself? At the end Jer pushes, explores. He then tries to start Sugaree but nobody bites and Bobby is talking to the crowd, then Phil teases somebody (wtf)? Brown Eyed Women is in a perfect '74 version, where Jer plays little during the verses, leaving it to Keith and Bobby. Jer is amazing in Beat it on Down-9, going all out in an A+ version. The playing against Keith is jaw-dropppping, Jer kickin' it low and then going to the opposite frets for the next verse. Then, Dire Wolf is such an epic disaster, Jer bails after a measure of the solo, jumping into the refrain and then stops playing. The band wasn't together from the start. This didn't happen in just '93-'95 (& think how often this would happen to most bands that tried a format like the Dead's)! Tennessee, gets on the wrong foot; can't be salvaged. Jack Straw is valiant - but just a bit too slopped. Things improve after a decent Deal on their way to the much-remarked China>Rider set peak. It's not that it's the best of '74 as much as the way the band grooves and slips around, sloppy one stanza and brilliant the next. Billy stands out on this one (easier, sans Mickey). It's entertaining either way (Rider's where the fun lays but you just don't isolate it now do ya). A stylized Around is then like an encore for the first set.

Second Set opener Mississippi 1/2 is a prime example of one of the tricks the Dead would play: simultaneously sloppy/on the edge of disaster, combined with a unique, risky version that, after 2 1/2 minutes, still fascinates. It could make you feel like you rode the risk with them and now, safely on the o t h e r s i d e, feel outwardly congratulatory. The middle of the set is not as good as the same songs from the night before. Scarlet has Jer trying to play off an early Donna wail but is below-average for '74. He's Gone is sloppy as hell but Jer injects wild lines @4 minutes and Phil joins the end chorus after which it takes several minutes to follows Jer's teases and dissolve into one of the best Truckin's of '74 (over 20 minutes long, including the afterjam). Space is mostly several individuals attempting jazz. I imagine some like this side of the band (too Spinal Tap at the amusement park).Stella is again teetering but, with a couple minutes of the emoting Garcia, effected merely via note choice and inflection. '74 is maybe the best Stella year. Jer and Bobby are in synch in a tight Saturday Night marred only by Donna's outré contributions. Jer is unusually active while delivering the verse forUS Blues; unless that's a guest? Good year for that tune, too.

1st Set:  C+
2nd Set: B-
Overall: 3 Stars  (bombs levied by equal amount of gems)

Highlights:
BEW
BioDtL
(China>)Rider
Around & Around
Truckin'
Stella
One More Saturday
US Blues
and maybe Promised Land

SOURCES:
I once had a too-low gen of this one but the SBD that circulates isn't of the highest qual anyway, though it does fill the gaps missing in Dick's 31. I have the Sacks which runs 1% fast, is hissy, and out-of-balance in places (with a deadicated machine w/pro soundcard, etc. I applied noise reduction, and normalized volume/balance at -1% speed before reviewing with great results); maybe the JRFishman SBD is better? There's another decent Jerry Moore AUD of this as well (weiner.21294).

The Truckin' jam in this concert is fantastic. Among the best I have heard. The whole concert is a very good one, but the Truckin' jam is a highlight. It goes to places that many have never thought of.

OUTRAGEOUS version of C>R in this show, Phil plays like a man possessed!

other highlights are one of the best-ever renditions of Half-Step>Roses, a very energetic Big River, and of course the meat of the show, He's Gone>Truckin'>Jam>Other One>Space>Stella, an excellent, funky and freaky jam, including the ONLY time I've ever heard Garcia on slide guitar during He's Gone.

DP 31 is well worth the investment!

Everyone loves the Roosevelt Stadium show the next night more. It gets all the hype. Classic and primal show indeed, this one matches that quality if not exceeding it.

Just perfect effort on everybodies part.

The Truckin' could be the best one of 74'.

I always feel like I'm not listening to enough '74. I have to continually listen to the massive jams in '74. I love the whole jazziness of the year. Billy is fantastic and IMO Jerry's chops on the guitar peaked in this year. I also really enjoy the stand alone Scarlet's. They have a real special quality to them. I listened to this portion of the show on my lunch break today;
Scarlet Begonias, He's Gone > Truckin' > Jam > The Other One Jam > Space > Jam > Stella Blue.
I melted into my seat. Way above average jazz fusion going on here. Keith and Phil sounded like they should have been playing in Weather Report.
This is epic jamming with a capital EPIC.

I think the Truckin' through Stella is standout. But then I listen to the jams on 5/19, 6/18, 6/23 and 10/17 and quickly realize that this is pretty typical stuff for the year. Love it.

Peace.

Only Miami and Philly were fortunate enough to have two-night stands during the 1974 Summer Tour. That being said, it's no surprise the 2nd night here is a KEEPER! I have not heard a better China>Rider in my time. Yeah, Prov 6-26 is a classic, but the jam here before Rider WAILS!!! Hear Jerry push the limits of this classic transition. The entire band is dialed in and when Rider finally arrives you forget what song they were jamming...
Set II's highlight has to be the He's Gone>Truckin>JAM>Space. Jerry again leads this meltdown. Gotta love how the band morphs into nothing after the main jam. Worth buying.